ASIC seeks enhanced capital flows


Tony D'Aloisio
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has announced that it will be working to remove barriers to capital flows into and out of Australia.
ASIC chairman Tony D’Aloisio said the report, entitled Enhancing Capital Flows into and out of Australia, details ASIC’s mutual recognition work with some of the world’s most significant markets and identifies objectives for the future.
D’Aloisio said the report identifies the importance of the freer flow of capital in providing wider investment opportunities for Australians and minimising the cost of capital for domestic businesses.
“The net amount of capital flowing into Australia increased by 200 per cent between 2001 and 2006, while Australian investment abroad increased from $7.3 billion in 1992 to $107 billion in 2006,” he said.
According to the report, ASIC has been working with the Treasury and using its connections with other regulators to assist the freer movement of capital.
The report focused particularly on ties with the United States following Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s visit earlier this year and China following the visit by Treasurer Wayne Swan.
D’Aloisio said ASIC would focus over the next year on actively maximising recognition for foreign markets and regulatory regimes and maximising international supervision and enforcement cooperation.
“We will also look at ways to make it easier to establish a financial services business in Australia and work with other Australian agencies to assist local businesses that want to expand offshore. Our relationships with foreign regulators means we can assist those regulators in considering requests by Australian businesses to operate in their jurisdiction,” he said.
Recommended for you
Net cash flow on AMP’s platforms saw a substantial jump in the last quarter to $740 million, while its new digital advice offering boosted flows to superannuation and investment.
Insignia Financial has provided an update on the status of its private equity bidders as an initial six-week due diligence period comes to an end.
A judge has detailed how individuals lent as much as $1.1 million each to former financial adviser Anthony Del Vecchio, only learning when they contacted his employer that nothing had ever been invested.
Having rejected the possibility of an IPO, Mason Stevens’ CEO details why the wealth platform went down the PE route and how it intends to accelerate its growth ambitions in financial advice.